Steve PMH“What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language.” —Miuccia Prada.
Theatre attendees attend between 3 to 5 musical shows per year, and knowing what to wear before the upcoming show will make you feel confident and look stylish.
Catchy music, dance sequences, intriguing spoken dialogues, and elegant costumes make musicals popular.
However, lots of men and women don’t know what to wear to a musical, which can cause a lot of embarrassment, especially if you’re going on a date or want to leave a good first impression.
But we’ve got your back because, in this article, we’ll explain the perfect attire and accessories for attending a musical. Keep on reading to learn more about what to wear to a musical.
What to Wear to a Musical
Deciding on the outfit for attending a Broadway or West End musical seems like a daunting task, especially if you’ve never been to a musical before. You want to look chic while remaining stylish.
For this reason, smart casual and casual chic styles work best. Your outfit should incorporate classic items with stylish and modern additions without choosing something that is too casual or too formal.
Snappy and crazy outfits belong to the stage, so you need to carefully decide on the pieces that you’re going to wear to attend a musical. Flip-flops and sweat pants might be comfy, but they’re a no-no in this case.
There are lots of cool and stylish ideas for men and women, so you can pick the most suitable ones to create a unique and flattering outfit.
What Women Should Wear to Musicals
Outfit ideas can range from smart casual to conservatively sexy, depending on the nature of the event. Casual and extremely formal outfits won’t be suitable.
Most people prefer semi-formal and formal items while adding some elegant pieces of accessories. Here are some outfit ideas to consider for your next musical event.
Little Black Dress
This piece never goes wrong, so you can use it on a date night, to attend a musical, or your Parents/Teachers’ night. A little black dress is a timeless piece.
Look for a velvet sheath dress with thin spaghetti straps and a sheer cardigan or shawl for warmth. You can also go for a long-sleeved dress and a slightly bold V-neckline without showing too much skin.
The idea is to avoid slits if you’re wearing a strappy dress and go for some boldness in the bottom part of the dress if the top seems too conservative.
Pair your dress with a pair of pumps or stilettos to complete the lock. Peep-toes also work, especially if the weather is a bit hot and you want to show off your freshly painted toenails.
A bolder color will make your outfit pop, so you can go for red, silver, or even gold footwear for an elegant look. Make sure that your clutch or handbag matches the footwear.
Style your hair in a sleek ponytail or make it flow naturally. Use simple accessories like a simple gold necklace and pearl earrings.
Elegant Pantsuit
An all-black or dark blue pantsuit is another alternative if you’re not comfortable wearing a dress or want to go for a less traditional look.
You can wear your pantsuit without a top underneath if the neckline doesn’t show much skin. However, you need to pair this look with the right tools to avoid wardrobe malfunctions.
If you have a deep V-neckline, you can pair your pantsuit with a matching wrap top. Go for flared pants to boost your height and make your thighs look slimmer. You can also opt for slim pants to show off your curves.
Experiment with a glittery top with spaghetti straps, or go for a satin bodysuit underneath. You can also use a scarf if you feel that the neckline is too deep.
Stilettos, pumps, and open-toed heels are perfect for attending musicals. Ankle strap heels and gladiator sandals can also work in the summer. If you’re wearing a black pantsuit, you can opt for a leopard or tiger print.
Tying the front part of your hair with golden pins while enhancing your look with simple evening style makeup will make you look effortlessly sexy.
Formal Blouse and Pants
You don’t have to buy a new outfit for attending a musical. An off-shoulder or cold-shoulder top will be the perfect choice for attending shows. Pair your top with dressy pants for a stylish semi-formal look.
Satin and silk will work when paired with slim pants. You can go for a soft flowy, lightweight sweater after tucking it into a high-waist pair of flared pants.
Wrap satin and silk blouses will also work when paired with the right pair of pants. Make sure that you’re wearing a simple print or that the top matches the color of the pants.
If you’re adding a belt, avoid adding other accessories because you need to look simple and elegant. Simple accessories like small hoop earrings or studs will work perfectly.
You can wear D’Orsay heels and a matching small shoulder bag. Red footwear looks great when paired with a white blouse and black pants. A high ponytail or styling your hair in French braids will complete the look.
Stylish Jumpsuit
A jumpsuit is a fun and attractive piece that you can dress up or down, depending on the occasion. Formal-style jumpsuits can come in several shapes and styles.
A classic jumpsuit with flared pants and a deep V-neckline will work perfectly for a musical. You can find a model with flowy chiffon sleeves for a feminine look. A sleeveless jumpsuit with a round neckline also looks great and works for all body types.
Solid colors help elongate the body and show off your curves. Picking the proper footwear shouldn’t be tricky, as you can wear your jumpsuit with pumps, open-toed heels, D’Orsay heels, and slingbacks.
Go for a sparkly clutch to transform the look of a simple casual jumpsuit into something that you can wear while attending a musical show.
If you want to get bold by trying a pattern, make sure that it’s simple and classy. Flowers and polka dots work, especially if you’re attending an evening show.
Try smooth beach waves or style your hair in a loose ponytail. If you’re going for a sleeveless jumpsuit with a deep neckline, you can wear your hair down to add more balance to the look.
Chic Skirt and Top
A skirt is a simple yet elegant piece that you can pair with other clothing items to create a chic look for attending a musical.
Pleated, pencil, and A-line skirts work if you want to pull off a stylish yet effortless look. Your choice depends on your body shape. Go for mid-knee or slightly above the knee length for more comfort.
This outfit is one of the best options to choose if you don’t have time to shop for a new outfit. An A-line skirt works for pear-shaped bodies because it creates the illusion of a slimmer silhouette.
If you have wider hips, you should avoid pleated skirts that make your hips look wider.
High-waisted pencil skirts accentuate your curves and help you show off a slim waistline. Apple-shaped bodies need skirts that disguise the wide waist, so you need to invest in an asymmetrical skirt or go for a flouncy skirt that flares a little at the bottom.
A lightweight sweater or a simple sleeveless blouse will work. Try a pleated blouse and tuck it in for a simple yet elegant look.
A thin belt will enhance the look of your outfit and connect all the pieces together. You should avoid flashy accessories so you don’t ruin this simple look.
You can also add a short blazer or a lightweight cardigan to your outfit. It will work if the weather is a bit cold or you want to pull off a more conservative look.
For the footwear, pumps, stilettos, and even Mary Jane platforms can work. Go for a shoulder bag or a small clutch to complement the look. You can wear your hair straight or go for beach waves.
Outfit Tips for Women
- Avoid t-shirts and flip-flops.
- All kinds of sportswear should be avoided.
- Don’t go for dresses and skirts that are too short.
- If the top has too many details or prints, choose a solid-color bottom.
- Long big gowns are not suitable for attending a musical.
What Men Should Wear to Musicals
Although it might seem like things are easier for men, many also get confused when it’s time to choose an outfit for attending a musical.
There is no need to stress out if you’re attending a musical with your friends or your date because there are already a few pieces in your wardrobe that you can style together to create the perfect outfit. The smart-casual style is the most suitable choice.
Blazer and Pants
A blazer is a must-have for those who want to pull off a smart casual look. However, you need to make sure that the blazer doesn’t look too formal by picking the right fabric.
Go for an unstructured blazer that is made of cotton or linen in summer, or opt for wool and tweed in winter.
A 2-button single-breasted blazer in blue, navy, black, or gray can be paired with Chinos or well-fitted Khakis. You can even pair it with your favorite dark denim, so you don’t look too formal.
Experiment with a flannel or tweed sports jacket on top of your dark denim. You can wear your blazer with a plain white t-shirt or a button-down shirt. A blazer is also great for layering, as you can wear it on top of a vest or a knit sweater.
Choose an adequate belt that matches the color of your shoes. Loafers will work great if you’re wearing denim. Bluchers will work if you’re wearing dressier pants like well-fitted Chinos.
Dressy Shirt with Chinos
The best thing about Chinos is that they provide the comfort of denim without being too casual. They’re comfortable and stylish, and you can’t go wrong with them. Moreover, they will work for drinks or dinner after the show.
Navy Chinos can be worn with a white or off-white dressy shirt. Beige Chinos also work and can be paired with a light-blue shirt. The shirt should be fitted and can be solid or lightly striped. Plaids look too casual for this occasion.
You can roll up the sleeves to look comfier, and you shouldn’t forget to boost the look with a nice watch. Oxfords and Chelsea Boots match this outfit, and you should add a chic yet simple classic belt.
Dark Denim and Button-Down Shirt
If you’re a big fan of denim, you can still wear your favorite pair, especially if you’re attending matinees. Dark denim can be dressed up with the right pieces.
A button-down shirt and an argyle-pattern vest or cardigan can make this outfit look more stylish.
Go for neutral and darker colors to make your outfit look more formal. Choose blue, green, brown, or gray for the vest. Plain Toe Bluchers and Blucher Mocs work for this look, and the belt color should match the shoes.
Khakis and Polo Shirt
Khakis are made of heavyweight cotton-like Chinos, but they have a more comfortable look. If you’re not a fan of the Chinos’ slim cut, you can go for comfortable Khakis while styling them with a Polo shirt.
This look works for less formal musical shows, especially early in the evening. It also looks comfortable and effortless.
Blue, white, navy, and green Polo shirts are perfect for this look, and you can pick Loafers that match the color of your belt. You can even wear your favorite sneakers, but you should stick to a minimalist style with no patterns or flashy colors.
Outfit Tips for Men
- Stick to closed shoes and avoid flip-flops and sandals.
- Wear dark socks if you’re not wearing sneakers.
- Avoid logo t-shirts and shirts.
- Sportswear won’t work if you’re attending a musical.
- Don’t wear shorts.
